Alan West's cat turns out to be a student of philosopher, Donald Rumsfeld... When it comes to life’s “to do or not to do” questions, a kind of Rumsfeldian logic can be applied - There are many things that we can do and therefore do do, quite profitably. There are those things that we can do…
Second guessing
After 40 years I assumed I could read my mother-in-law’s mind. By then she was in her late eighties, had become vague and forgetful, but her sense of the absurd was undiminished, possibly even enhanced. We went out for lunch and after our hors-d’ourvres and main courses, we negotiated to go halves on the pudding…
Rites of passage
We were on our way back to France. I had successfully negotiated the metal-detector, was no longer barefoot and was just rethreading my trouser belt when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my suitcase being set to one side. I confirmed that it was mine and was asked to go to a…
The bliss of solitude
One great difference between full time work and retirement has been the amount of time I spend alone. As a doctor and teacher I had a career that involved working closely with people and during my last years at work almost every hour was spent in the company of others. Mostly it was with individuals…
Lost for words
"There must be a German word for it," I said, as we breezed past the entrance gate. The magnificent sandstone facade of the house, basking in the evening sun, suddenly shot into in my rear view mirror. "German word for what?" asked my wife. "Realising that was your turning, just after you've gone past it."…
A surreal wedding
That Friday afternoon could have been heavy. My assignation - a church wedding in the heartlands of Surrey. The journey there took less time than expected thanks to an easy platform change and an early connection. I arrived at Dorking to be met by the bridegroom’s mother. There were three other invitees at the station…
The cruel denial of assisted dying
Whatever else, arguments for and against assisted dying must include the notion of cruelty. And, in my view to refuse the request for advice on, or help in, dying (the legal requirement of doctors at present) when asked for help by patients of sound mind, who are competent to make decisions, who are suffering unbearably…
The do’s and don’ts of unsolicited advice
There were eight of us round the table - granny (now past being involved in serious discussion), my wife and myself, our three sons (aged 29, 34 and 38), a cousin and a family friend (they were aged in their early 30s). Towards the end of the starter (on offer were smoked salmon, liver pate,…